Standard operating procedures (SOPs) offer step-by-step instructions on how to perform laboratory analyses.

SOPs are a critical component in ensuring the replicability, credibility and traceability of data. They are crucial in case of measurement's errors and go hand-in-hand with the execution of internal and external quality control exercises.

Indeed, SOPs help lab staff to carry out routine operations by describing, in detail, how to perform a laboratory process or experiment safely and effectively. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality of output and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with laboratory and international standards. The harmonization of laboratory standard operating procedures and methods is at the basis of harmonizing soil laboratory data.

29-30 June, 2021

The second meeting of the International Network on Fertilizer Analysis (INFA) was attended by over 200 participants from more than 70 countries and was successful in establishing the governance of the network, and in defining the topics for the working groups. The event was attended by distinguished speakers, who exchanged experiences with the participants.

Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) has launched a series of online trainings on different topics related to soil analysis.

The capacity development programme will start with a cycle of webinars on dry chemistry/ soil spectroscopy. This initiative is part of a wider training programme that will comprise also other subjects such as wet chemistry, health and safety, equipment purchasing, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), and laboratory management. All trainings will be implemented in different languages and time zones, according to the trainer's availability, in order to allow a larger audience to attend the sessions.

This series of webinars named "Technical and financial tools for valuing the productive and environmental potential of soils in Latin America and the Caribbean" was held in virtual format on 4-8-9 June 2021 and saw the participation of almost 2000 experts from the region over the three days.

The event was jointly organized by the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and by the Latin America Soil Partnership. The main participants consisted of GSP partners, FAO Country Offices, as well as all stakeholders involved in the environmental and productive sector of the region. Furthermore, the virtual setting allowed several interested participants from many other regions to join the discussion. The objective was to present the tools developed by the Global Soil Partnership in support of country activities for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The salinity and sodicity levels of soil are increasing in many areas around the world. Arid and semi-arid regions as well as croplands of coastal areas are among the most affected areas, though this process also occurs on other types of land. Often, this leads to reduced crop yields and sometimes to soils abandoned by farming since farmers renounce cultivating these soils completely. 

Naturally occurring saline and sodic soils are a valuable component of natural biomes. However, the growth of salinity in the croplands and surrounding areas due to improper management is a threat to agricultural production, food security, the provision of essential ecosystem services as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

This third issue of the ITPS letters demonstrates how in some regions adverse effects of soil salinity and sodicity will likely be exacerbated by climate change and extreme weathering events and have further impacts on the prices of commodities produced in vulnerable areas while increasing mass migration of peoples in the future.

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